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ThreeOverlookedLeadershipRoles|LeadershipJournal
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January14,2016
Thefollowingarticleislocatedat:http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/spring/7.32.html
LeadershipJournal,May2008

ThreeOverlookedLeadershipRoles
We'refamiliarwithpastorsandteachers,buttoday'sworldneedsaleadershipteamthatincludesthreebiblicalbutforgottenfunctions.
AlanHirsch|postedMay16,2008

ItwaswhileleadingSouthMelbourneRestorationCommunity,aninnercitychurchcommittedtoreachingthe
marginalizedpeopleofourcity,thatIrealizedsomethingwasfundamentallywrong.
Wewerearagtagbandofexdruggieswithachurchsituatedinaprofoundlypostmodernandtribalizedpartof
thecity.Themodelofchurchwehadinheritedwasclearlynotcuttingit.Scarcelyanythinginmytrainingfor
ministryhadpreparedmetoforthis.
InthispostChristiancontext,weneededtobemorethanministersrunningachurch.Weneededadifferent
typeofleadership.
Wemorphedfromaninstitutionalchurchintoamissionalone.Intheyearsthatfollowed,weplantedfive
morechurchesamongthehomosexuals,prostitutes,streetkids,theravescene,bluecollarworkers,Jewish
people,andGenXers.Itwasexciting,butwefelttotallyinadequatetothetask.Itforcedustoabroader
understandingofthechurch'smission,andabettergraspofwhatleadershipinvolved.
WhileatSouth,Iwasinvitedtoleadarevitalizationmovementwithinmydenominationthefourthlargest
ProtestantdenominationinAustralia.Seeingthingsfromthishigheraltitude,IrecognizedthatSouthwasnot
theonlychurchfacingacrisis.Myentiredenominationneededtoshifttowardamissionalcultureifitwasto
growandsurvive.Buthow?
Weneededanewtypeofleadership,onewiththecouragetoquestionthestatusquo,todreamofnew
possibilities,andtoinnovatenewwaysofbeingthepeopleofGodinapostChristianculture.Weneeded
missionariestotheWest,butourseminarieswerenotproducingthem.Ifwetakethefivecategoriesofchurch
leadershipfromEphesians4:11,theyweretrainingleaderstobeteachersandpastorsforestablished
congregations,butwhereweretheevangelists,theprophets,andtheapostlestoleadthemissionofthegospel
intotheworld?

Missionalchurchesrequireall
Fiveaspectsofministry
Leadershipontheteam.

Apostles,Prophets,Evangelists,Shepherds,andTeachersIrefer
tothesetogetherasAPEST.ButwhenIlookedatmychurchand

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mostothers,Isawcongregationsdominatedbyleaderswhowere
shepherdsandteachers.Whathappenedtotheotherleadershiptypes?

WherehavealltheAPEsgone?
DuringChristendom,thecenturieswhenChristianitydominatedtheculture,thechurchacquireda
fundamentallynonmissionalposture.Missionbeyondthewallsoftheinstitutionwasdownplayedbecause
everycitizenwasdeemedatleastanominalChristianalready.Whatwasneededwerepastoralandteaching
ministriestocareforandinstructthecongregation,andtodrawunderdevelopedChristiansbackintothe
churchonSunday.
So,thesetwofunctionswereeventuallyinstitutedastheleadershipofficesinthechurch,andtheotherthree
roleslistedinEphesians4(apostles,prophets,andevangelists)fadedawayaslargelyunnecessary.Thesystem
ofchurchleadershipweinheritedfromChristendomheavilyfavorsmaintenanceandpastoralcare,thus
neglectingthechurch'slargermissionandministry.
ConsequentlytheA,P,andEleadershipfunctionsweremarginalizedfromthechurch'sleadershipstructure.
Inmyyearsofministry,I'veseenhowmanychurchessidelinepeoplewithmoreAPEtypegifts.Ofcourse,this
isnottosaythatapostolic,prophetic,andevangelisticministrieshavetotallydisappeared.Manywithinthe
churchhavemanagedtofilltheseroleswithoutnecessarilybeingtagged"apostles"or"prophets,"but,byand
large,theselackedformalrecognition,andtheyhavetendedtobeexercisedoutsidethecontextofthelocal
church.
Forexample,theworkofSt.PatrickandtheCelticmovement,thatofJohnWesley,WilliamBooth,andmany
othersisclearlyofadifferenttypethanthatofashepherdteacher.Anditisnothardtoseehowtheexilingof
apostles,prophets,andevangelistsgaverisetothedevelopmentofparachurchagenciesandmissionary
orders,eachwithasomewhatatomizedministryfocus.
TheNavigators,forinstance,aroseoutofaneedtoevangelizeanddisciplepeopleoutsideofthechurch
structuresbecausethechurchwasneithereffectivenorinterested.Sojournersemergedtorepresentthesocial
justiceconcernsthatthechurchwaslargelyignoring,asdidWorldVision,theaidanddevelopmentagency.
ThisdivorceofAPEfromSThasbeendisastrousforthelocalchurchandhasdamagedthecauseofChristand
hismission.Inmyopinion,thiscontractionoffivefoldtotwofoldministryisoneofthemainfactorsinthe
declineofevangelicalChristianityintheWest.Ifwewantavibrantmissionalchurch,wesimplyhavetohavea
missionalleadershipstructurewithallfivefunctionsengaged.It'sthatsimple!
Weneedmorethanapastorand/orteacherleadingacongregation.Amissionalchurchrequirespioneering,
innovative,organizationallyadaptive,andexternallyfocusedleadership,andthismeansafivefold
understandingofministryleadership.LetmedescribeeachoftheAPESTroles,thecoretaskofeach,andthe
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impactwhenonedominatesorworksinisolationfromtheothers.
APOSTLESextendthegospel.Asthe"sentones,"theyensurethatthefaithistransmittedfromonecontextto
anotherandfromonegenerationtothenext.Theyarealwaysthinkingaboutthefuture,bridgingbarriers,
establishingthechurchinnewcontexts,developingleaders,networkingtranslocally.Yes,ifyoufocussolely
oninitiatingnewideasandrapidexpansion,youcanleavepeopleandorganizationswounded.The
shepherdingandteachingfunctionsareneededtoensurepeoplearecaredforratherthansimplyused.
PROPHETSknowGod'swill.TheyareparticularlyattunedtoGodandhistruthfortoday.Theybring
correctionandchallengethedominantassumptionsweinheritfromtheculture.Theyinsistthatthe
communityobeywhatGodhascommanded.Theyquestionthestatusquo.Withouttheothertypesofleaders
inplace,prophetscanbecomebelligerentactivistsor,paradoxically,disengagefromtheimperfectionofreality
andbecomeotherworldly.
EVANGELISTSrecruit.Theseinfectiouscommunicatorsofthegospelmessagerecruitotherstothecause.
TheycallforapersonalresponsetoGod'sredemptioninChrist,andalsodrawbelieverstoengagethewider
mission,growingthechurch.Evangelistscanbesofocusedonreachingthoseoutsidethechurchthatmaturing
andstrengtheningthoseinsideisneglected.
SHEPHERDSnurtureandprotect.Caregiversofthecommunity,theyfocusontheprotectionandspiritual
maturityofGod'sflock,cultivatingalovingandspirituallymaturenetworkofrelationships,makingand
developingdisciples.Shepherdscanvaluestabilitytothedetrimentofthemission.Theymayalsofosteran
unhealthydependencebetweenthechurchandthemselves.
TEACHERSunderstandandexplain.CommunicatorsofGod'struthandwisdom,theyhelpothersremain
biblicallygroundedtobetterdiscernGod'swill,guidingotherstowardwisdom,helpingthecommunityremain
faithfultoChrist'sword,andconstructingatransferabledoctrine.Withouttheinputoftheotherfunctions,
teacherscanfallintodogmatismordryintellectualism.Theymayfailtoseethepersonalormissionalaspects
ofthechurch'sministry.
Whenallfiveofthesefunctionsarepresent,thechurchoperatesatpeakperformance.TousePaul'sterms,it
"grows,""matures,""buildsitselfup,"and"reachesunityinthefaith."
Sometimesitiseasierforpeopletoseethewisdomofthisfivefoldstructurewhenitisn'tpresentedinbiblical
language.Ifweapplyasociologicalapproachtothedifferingministrystyles,wediscoverthatPaul'smissional
ecclesiologyisconfirmedbythebestcurrentthinkinginleadershiptheoryandpractice.
Inmostorganizationalsystems,thereisacknowledgementoftheimportanceoftheseleadershipfunctions:
Theentrepreneur:Innovatorandculturalarchitectwhoinitiatesanewproduct,orservice,anddevelopsthe
organization.
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Thequestioner:Provocateurwhoprobesawarenessandfostersquestioningofcurrentprogrammingleadingto
organizationallearning.

Thecommunicator:Recruitertotheorganizationwhomarketstheideaorproductandgainsloyaltytoabrand
orcause.

Thehumanizer:Peopleorientedmotivatorwhofostersahealthyrelationalenvironmentthroughthe
managementofmeaning.

Thephilosopher:Systemsthinkerwhoisabletoclearlyarticulatetheorganizationalideologyinawayasto
advancecorporatelearning.

Variousleadershipexpertsusedifferenttermsforthesecategories,buttheywouldallrecognizethevital
contributionsthesedifferenttypesofleadersbringtoanorganization.Leadershiptheorysaysthatthe
conflictingagendasandmotivationsofthesefivekindsofleaderswilltendtopullthemindifferentdirections.
Butifthesefivecouldbeproperlydeveloped,focused,andcoordinated,togethertheywouldcreateavery
potentleadershipteam.
Imaginealeadershipsysteminanysetting(corporate,governmental,nonprofit,educational,etc.)wherethe
entrepreneurialinnovatorinteractsdynamicallywiththedisturberofthestatusquo.Imaginethatbotharein
activedialogueandrelationshipwiththepassionatecommunicator/recruiter,theinfectiouspersonwho
carriesthemessagebeyondorganizationalbordersandsellstheidea/sorproduct/s.Andtheseinturnarein
constantengagementwiththeemotionallyintelligenthumanizer(HR)andthephilosopherleaderwhoisable
toarticulatecoreideasandpassthemon.Clearlythecombinationofthesedifferentleadershipstylesisgreater
thanthesumofitsparts.
BecauseofoursearchforamoredistinctlymissionalleadershipmodelatSouthMelbourneRestoration
Community,wedecidedabouteightyearsagotoimplementtheAPESTmodelatourchurch.
Thefirststepwasrestructuringtheleadershipsowecouldensurethatallfiveministrieswerepresentonthe
team.Eachmemberoftheteamwouldrepresentoneaspectofthefivefoldmodelandberesponsiblefor
headingupateamrelatedtothatareaofministry.
Weappointedanapostolicleadertooverseetheteamfocusingonthetranslocal,missional,strategic,and
experimentalissuesfacingthechurch.
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ThepropheticleaderinitiatedateamfocusedonlisteningtoGod,discerninghiswillforus,beingawareof
socialjusticeissueswecouldaddress,andquestioningthestatusquoofanincreasinglymiddleclasschurch.
Theevangelistamongusdevelopedateamtooverseeanddevelopoutreach.
Theshepherd'steamstrengthenedcommunity,cellgroups,worship,counseling,andgenerallyenhancedthe
relationalcapacityofthechurch.
Theteachingteam'staskwastocreatecontextsforlearninganddeveloptheloveofwisdomand
understandingthroughBiblestudiesandtheologicaldiscussiongroups.
OurstructurewentfromatraditionalChristendomhierarchywithashepherd/teacheratthetop,toateam
structurewithallfiveministryfunctionsplayingavitalrole.

Yes,wecanalljustgetalong!
Admittedly,ourworkingwithinthisAPESTstructuredidcreatesignificantdebateattimes.Thisiswhatmakes
havingatraditionalhierarchyattractiveonepersonmakesthefinaldecisions.Buteventhedebatesonour
leadershipteamwerethoroughlyinvigoratingandleddirectlytothechurch'sadoptingamoreaggressive
missionalposture.
Thekeywaslearningtomanagethedynamicinordertodrawupontheincreasedenergyoftheteamandnot
betornapartbyopposingopinions.WeadoptedtheapproachadvocatedbyRichardPascaleinhisbook,
ManagingfromtheEdge.
Pascalesuggeststwopolaritiesthat,ifmanagedwell,createsynergyontheleadershipteam.Hecallsthem"fit
split"and"contendtranscend."Theterm"fit"referstothatwhichbindsanorganizationtogether.Itisthe
group'scommonethosandpurpose."Split"happenswhenweintentionallyallowfordiversityofexpression
andthoughtontheteam.
"Contend"isthepermission,evenencouragement,givenbyleadershiptodisagree,debate,anddialogue
aroundcoretasks."Transcend"isthecollectiveagreementeveryonemakestoovercomedisagreementinorder
tofindnewsolutions.
Whenfacinganyministryissue,webeginbycommittingourselvestothecommonmissionofthegroup.We
covenanttodowhateverittakestoseeourmissionfulfilled.Butthiskindofinterpersonalcommitment
requiresabondthatgoesbeyondtheprofessionalrelationshipsthatexistonmanychurchstaffs.
WelivedoutourunityinChristbylivingtogether,strugglingtogether,worshipingtogether,prayingtogether,
andfacingourproblemstogether.Itwasthehealthytrustdevelopedontheteam(fit)thatalloweddivergent
opinions(split)tobeexpressedwithoutfearofoffendingoneanother.Itwasthestrongsenseofcommitment
tooneanotherthatgaveeachmemberpermissiontooperateoutofhisorherownministrybiases,andthen
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unapologeticallyrepresenttheirperspectivesontheissueathand.
Theapostlewouldpresstheneedtogalvanizethecommunityaroundmissionandextension.Theprophet
wouldchallengejustabouteverythingandaskprobingquestionsabouthowGodfitintoourgrandschemes.
Theevangelistwouldalwaysemphasizetheneedtobringpeopletofaithandexpandthereachofthegospel.
Theshepherdinevitablyexpressedconcernsabouthowthecommunitycouldremainhealthyamidchange.
AndtheteachertriedtodiscernthevalidityofanynewideafromScriptureandhistory.
Thepresenceofthesedivergentinterestsinevitablycauseddebatesandarguments(contend).Butwedidnot
trytoresolvedisagreementtooquicklymuchtothediscomfortoftheshepherdontheteam.Inmy
experience,thegreatesttensionusuallyarosebetweentheapostle(withthemissionaldrive)andtheshepherd
(withthecommunityhealthimpulse),butwealmostalwaysmanagedtoovercomeconflictthroughdialogue
andprayer(transcend).
Remember,wewerecommittedtostaywiththeproblemuntilwehadassessedalloptionsandhad,through
dialogueanddebate,arrivedatthebestsolution.Asaresult,theoutcomeswereachedweremorefullorbed,
faithfultoGod,sensitivetotheneedsofnotyetbelievers,sustainable,mature,andtheologicallywell
grounded.
Oneofthetechniquesweusedtohelpourteamstructurefunctionismodeledfromanideadevelopedby
creativeguruEdwardDeBono.

PutonyourAPESThats
"ThinkingHats"isagameinwhichparticipantsadoptoneanother'sperspectivesinordertosolveproblems.
DeBono'ssixhatsrepresentsixdifferentmodesofthinking.Participantsagreetoswitchhatsforaperiodof
timeinordertoassumeanapproachtoaproblemotherthantheonetheyarenaturallyinclinedtoward.
Thekeyiscommittingtothinkonlyinaccordwiththehatyouarewearing.Thegoalisforeachplayerto
achieveabroaderperspective.
WeadaptedDeBono'smethodtotheAPESTtypology.Withthe"A"haton,everyoneisforcedtothink
apostolically.Whenthe"P"hatison,thewholegroupstepsintothepropheticperspective,andsoforth.This
practicetrainseveryonetothinkmoreholisticallyonanygivensubject,anditalsoteachestheteamtovalue
oneanother'sperspective.
Ihavebeeninlocal,national,and"glocal"ministryforover18years,andIhavehadmanysuccessfulleaders
fromoutsidethechurchtellmeabouttheirdesiretobein"theministry."Butwhentheypursuedthiscalling,
theywereturnedawayfromthechurchbecausetheydidn'tpossesstherightskillsorgifts,meaning,theywere
notshepherdsorteachers.Manyofthesegiftedpeoplehavegoneontomakeasignificantimpact(andin
manycases,alotofmoney)inotherdomains,butit'shardtocalculatethelossthishasmeanttothechurch
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anditsmission.
ItistimeforthechurchtorecognizetheimportanceofwelcomingleaderswithallfiveoftheEphesians4
functionsintothechurch.Everysignificantmissionalmovementhasinsomewayincorporatedthefive
functionsintoitssystem.
Whenapostles,prophets,evangelists,shepherds,andteachersareworkingtogether,awonderfulmissional
ecologyiscreated.Notonlyisthisamorebiblicallyfaithfulmodel,italsoprovidesatheologicallyrich,
organicallyconsistent,andorganizationallycomprehensiveframeworktohelpthechurchbecomemore
missionallyeffectiveandculturallyagile.ThetimehascomeforthechurchintheWesttorediscoverthelost
potentialofbiblicalleadershipthathasbeendormantfortoolong.
AlanHirschisaleaderoftheForgeMissionTrainingNetworkinAustralia,andauthorofTheForgottenWays(Brazos,
2007).
Copyright2008bytheauthororChristianityToday/LeadershipJournal.
ClickhereforreprintinformationonLeadershipJournal.

2016ChristianityToday

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